Introduction

As far as we can know, William Shakespeare (1564-1616), wrote at least 38 plays in a prolific 24-year period that started in approximately 1589 and ended in 1613.

At the turn of this century, Shakespeare was named "Man of the Millennium" in a British poll. Now in a new century, a new millennium, Shakespeare still appears on stages around the globe.

Why is Shakespeare still such a dominant figure? Is it because he writes on timeless issues, such as life and death ... things we can still relate to in the 21st century. Even though some academics might claim him as one of their own, Shakespeare still has something for everyone.